British Airways has finally thrashed out an agreement to end a bitter two-year battle with its cabin crew which cost the company £150million.

The conflict, which lasted longer than the miners’ strike of the 1980s, saw the airline and its passengers hit by a total of 22 days of strikes since its start in February 2009.

But a deal has been reached with the militant Unite union, which represents the majority of BA crew, and is already being regarded as a crucial victory for the airline and Willie Walsh who led it for most of the dispute.